Taylor Marsh – TaylorMarsh.com – News, Opinion and Weblog on Progressive Politics

The countdown to a decision on will he or won’t he has begun for Joseph P. Kennedy II.

So, for now I’ll refrain from recounting the challenges and scrutiny that would bring another round of excavating his past, including the annulment scandal, which the Boston papers are already covering; reminding everyone what will be part of any campaign fight if Joe II enters. Though it’s unclear how much anyone can stomach a rehashing, given it’s Teddy’s seat he would be trying to win, with much romanticism and nostalgia lingering in the air. But will it last or transfer to Joe II?

Meanwhile, what about Vicki Kennedy? The Boston Herald offers up some speculation and unsourced rumors:

A Democratic operative with Kennedy contacts told the Herald yesterday Vicki Kennedy is “very much interested” in occupying the seat to see his life’s work completed. A family friend said nephew Joseph P. Kennedy II also is being urged by friends and family to run. …

George Stephanopoulos, whose info is usually good, trumps the Herald’s “Democratic operative with Kennedy contacts”, offering a “solid source” (via Twitter), plus that Gov. Patrick is scheduled to make an announcement around 3pm today:

The trial balloon launched yesterday by Kennedy friends Chris Dodd and Orrin Hatch isn’t going anywhere. A solid source assures me that Vicki Kennedy won’t run in a special election to fill the Massachusetts Senate seat. She’s not interested in an interim appointment if it becomes available.

There is little doubt Democrats will need reminding of what Sen. Ted Kennedy wanted, not just the history that he worked via bipartisanship to pass legislation whenever possible, which Republicans will be flaking at every turn, over his nearly five decades of service in the Senate. Because it should be noted that no one was a harder partisan when it came to making the case for liberal causes. Like I said in one of the interviews I did over the weekend, with Al Jazeera English: If Sen. Kennedy couldn’t get it done through bipartisanship, there is no question he’d push forward with only Democrats if that’s what it took to get important legislation passed. However, bipartisan agreement out of competition and confrontation was always Kennedy’s collaborative goal, if it was possible.

This might have been doable before the wingnuts took over. But now the Republican Party is more about doing nothing or obstructing, seemingly more intent on keeping Democrats from adding to our social justice legacy than they are about offering solutions to America’s challenges.

The sight of Joseph P. Kennedy II picking up Teddy’s mantle on health care could perhaps be the person Pres. Obama needs to haunt his every compromise, which we can all sense is coming. As for Mrs. Vicki Kennedy, it makes you wonder if anyone could be more powerful. But does she want it?

So, many things remain in the wind until Gov. Patrick makes his announcement.

One thing that remains constant is what Sen. Ted Kennedy said to his “Committee for a Democratic Majority” in his final email, which restated his commitment and his goals on health care reform. Something no Democrat should be allowed to forget.

Friend,

I’ve seen our health care system up close over the past year.

I’m fortunate to have the finest medical care in the world. But I’ve seen far too many people unable to obtain the care they need because they can’t afford it.

That’s wrong. It’s got to change, and it’s about to change.

We’re fighting for legislation in Congress to fix our broken health care system. Under President Obama’s leadership, Republicans and Democrats are working together to write a bill that will guarantee good care at long last to everyone who needs it.

But we’ll need strong nationwide support to produce the 60 Senate votes that will probably be required to avoid a filibuster and actually pass the bill.

Friend, I need your support. Please sign our petition for quality, affordable health care for every American:

http://www.democraticmajority.com/healthcare (TM NOTE: This site is now EMK’s memorial site.)

Our legislation includes five major provisions:

• We give Americans better choices for health insurance. We follow a simple principle: If you like the coverage you have now, you can keep it. If you don’t like your current coverage, our bill offers new and more affordable options. We’ll negotiate with insurance companies to keep costs low, make it illegal for companies to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and give Americans the option to enroll in a public insurance program.
• We reduce the cost of health care. We’ll crack down on fraud and abuse, and we’ll reduce red tape to keep costs down. We also make sure doctors use the most effective therapies to treat illnesses, so patients aren’t paying extra for treatments that don’t work.
• We put new emphasis on prevention. The best way to treat a disease is to prevent it from ever striking, or to catch it at an early stage. By giving every American access to affordable health care, we’ll enable millions of people to be screened for diabetes, heart disease, cancer and depression.
• We bring more help to the elderly and the disabled. We make it easier for these Americans to live independently. We help pay for home upgrades such as wheelchair ramps, and for regular home care to enable people to live in their own homes, not nursing homes.
• Finally, we develop a better health workforce, delivering modern and responsive care. We invest in doctors, nurses, and other health professionals to meet the needs of patients more effectively for years to come.

These changes won’t be easy to enact — but we can’t afford to wait, and we can’t afford to fail.

Show your support for health reform that will benefit all our citizens, reduce the financial burdens on our nation’s people and businesses, and put our health care industry on a strong and sustainable basis for the future:

http://www.democraticmajority.com/healthcare (TM NOTE: This site is now EMK’s memorial site.)

I’ll be working hard to pass this bill in the weeks ahead, and I hope you’ll be there with me.

Thank you so much for the very real difference you can make in achieving this great goal we share.

Sincerely,
Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Tags: Barack Obama, Democrats, health care, John F. Kennedy, women